Chinese word

民主

Pronunciation

Pinyinmín zhǔ

Meaning

  • noundemocracy

Example

年轻人关心民主和人权问题。nián qīng rén guān xīn mín zhǔ hé rén quán wèn tí

Young people care about democracy and human rights issues.

Illustration for 民主 (democracy)

More examples

选举是实现民主的重要方式。xuán jǔ shì shí xiàn mín zhǔ de zhòng yào fāng shì

Elections are an important way to achieve democracy.

Core concept

Public power rests on the voices and choices of the people who live under it.

Common phrases

  • 民主制度mín zhǔ zhì dù

    democratic system

  • 民主国家mín zhǔ guó jiā

    democratic country

  • 举行民主选举jǔ xíng mín zhú xuán jǔ

    hold democratic elections

Similar words

选举xuán jǔ: The process or system of choosing representatives or public officials by voting.
公民gōng mín: A person who belongs to a country or society and has political rights and duties.
人权rén quán: The basic rights and fair treatment that every person has from birth.
自由zì yóu: The state of being able to act or express opinions without outside force or limits.

Definition in Chinese

强调公民或人民在公共事务中拥有发言权与决策权的政治理念或制度。qiáng diào gōng mín huò rén mín zài gōng gòng shì wù zhōng yōng yǒu fā yán quán yǔ jué cè quán de zhèng zhì lǐ niàn huò zhì dù

Word origin

民主 (mínzhǔ, "democracy") joins 民 (mín, "the people") and 主 (zhǔ, "master or one in charge"), expressing the idea that public authority belongs to the people.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, the word can describe decision-making in a family, club, or workplace, so its scope is not limited to a national government.

Other meanings

  • democraticadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 民主化mín zhǔ huàdemocratizationnoun
  • 民主主义mín zhú zhǔ yìdemocracynoun
  • 民主党mín zhú dǎngDemocratic Partynoun

Word lists with this word